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Cass County, Iowa

Coordinates: 41°19′46″N 94°55′45″W / 41.32944°N 94.92917°W / 41.32944; -94.92917
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cass County
County
Cass County Courthouse
Cass County Courthouse
Map of Iowa highlighting Cass County
Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
Map of the United States highlighting Iowa
Iowa's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°19′46″N 94°55′45″W / 41.329444444444°N 94.929166666667°W / 41.329444444444; -94.929166666667
Country United States
State Iowa
Founded1851
Named forLewis Cass
SeatAtlantic
Largest cityAtlantic
Area
 • Total
565 sq mi (1,460 km2)
 • Land564 sq mi (1,460 km2)
 • Water0.7 sq mi (2 km2)  0.1%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
13,127
 • Density23/sq mi (9.0/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.casscountyia.gov

Cass County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,127.[1] Its county seat is Atlantic.[2] It was named to honor Lewis Cass, who was the 1848 Democratic nominee for president.

History

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Cass County is named in honor of Lewis Cass,[3] a Michigan senator and an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for the presidency in 1848. The county was established within its present boundaries in 1851 and originated in 1853. Religious persecution was responsible for bringing the first people of European ancestry to Cass County. The Mormons, fleeing from Illinois, were the earliest settlers, and established a community at Indiantown in 1846.

At Indiantown, two of the three commissioners selected to locate a county seat were chosen. The site they chose was one mile (1.6 km) from Indiantown and named Lewis. Most of the people and businesses in Indian Town moved to Lewis shortly after it was laid out. In 1856, a frame courthouse was built, and eight years later a small stone building was completed for the county treasurer's office. In 1857, there was an attempt to relocate the county seat to Grove City; it was unsuccessful. On October 20, 1869, after a due canvass of the vote on the re-location of the county seat, the Board declared the city of Atlantic the county seat and ordered the county officers to that place.

Soils of Cass County

In 1872, the first courthouse built in Atlantic was completed. Until it was completed county offices were held in various empty buildings. Ten years later the county built its second courthouse at Atlantic. The $65,000 building was destroyed by a fire in 1932. The fire started in the clock tower and gutted all of the second floor. Most of the county records and equipment were saved.

The present, fourth, courthouse was completed in 1934. While it was being built, county offices were located in the Atlantic Motors building, where an attempted robbery of the treasurer's safe took place. The robbers were interrupted and escaped, but without any money. The final cost of the fourth courthouse was $130,000: $65,000 came from a county bond issue, $46,500 from insurance and the remaining was covered by a Public Works Administration federal grant. The concrete and brick building is three stories high. It was dedicated on December 26, 1934, with the main speaker being the Governor of Iowa, Clyde L. Herring. The Board of Supervisors approved a new jail addition, which was dedicated in 1984.

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 565 square miles (1,460 km2), of which 564 square miles (1,460 km2) is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2) (0.1%) is water.[4]

Major highways

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Transit

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Adjacent counties

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Other Geographical notes

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Due to its proximity to Cass County, Nebraska, and because both of those counties receive most of their broadcasts from Omaha, Nebraska, references to 'Cass County' must be frequently disambiguated, or result in confusion.[citation needed]

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18601,612—
18705,464239.0%
188016,943210.1%
189019,64215.9%
190021,2748.3%
191019,047−10.5%
192019,4212.0%
193019,4220.0%
194018,647−4.0%
195018,532−0.6%
196017,919−3.3%
197017,007−5.1%
198016,932−0.4%
199015,128−10.7%
200014,684−2.9%
201013,956−5.0%
202013,127−5.9%
2023 (est.)13,130[5]0.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2018[10]
Population of Cass County from US census data

2020 census

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2022 US Census population pyramid for Cass County from ACS 5-year estimates

The 2020 census recorded a population of 13,127 in the county, with a population density of 23.2868/sq mi (8.9911/km2). 96.75% of the population reported being of one race. 92.23% were non-Hispanic White, 0.22% were Black, 2.33% were Hispanic, 0.19% were Native American, 0.27% were Asian, 0.59% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and 4.17% were some other race or more than one race. There were 6,398 housing units of which 5,818 were occupied.[1]

2010 census

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The 2010 census recorded a population of 13,956 in the county, with a population density of 24.745/sq mi (9.554/km2). There were 6,591 housing units, of which 5,980 were occupied.[11]

2000 census

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As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 14,684 people, 6,120 households, and 4,094 families residing in the county. The population density was 26 people per square mile (10 people/km2). There were 6,590 housing units at an average density of 12 units per square mile (4.6 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.84% White, 0.21% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races, and 0.34% from two or more races. 0.69% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,120 households, out of which 29.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.60% were married couples living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.10% were non-families. 29.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.80% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 24.80% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 20.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 94.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,922, and the median income for a family was $40,564. Males had a median income of $29,736 versus $20,108 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,067. About 7.20% of families and 11.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.40% of those under age 18 and 10.10% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

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Communities

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Cities

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Townships

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Cass County is divided into sixteen townships:

Population ranking

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The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Cass County.[1] † county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2020 Census)
1 † Atlantic City 6,792
2 Griswold City 994
3 Anita City 963
4 Massena City 359
5 Lewis City 357
6 Cumberland City 251
7 Marne City 110
8 Wiota City 91

Politics

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Cass County has historically been one of the most solidly Republican counties in Iowa. The only Democrat ever to win the county was Franklin D. Roosevelt in his 1932 landslide, taking the county by less than 2%. Despite Roosevelt winning by an even larger landslide nationally just four years later, he lost Cass County by more than 13%.

United States presidential election results for Cass County, Iowa[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 5,007 69.38% 2,077 28.78% 133 1.84%
2020 4,969 68.29% 2,201 30.25% 106 1.46%
2016 4,761 66.82% 1,951 27.38% 413 5.80%
2012 4,217 58.53% 2,858 39.67% 130 1.80%
2008 4,006 54.49% 3,211 43.68% 135 1.84%
2004 4,796 63.58% 2,679 35.52% 68 0.90%
2000 4,206 61.13% 2,481 36.06% 193 2.81%
1996 3,384 49.29% 2,616 38.11% 865 12.60%
1992 3,176 45.00% 2,231 31.61% 1,651 23.39%
1988 3,962 56.86% 2,934 42.11% 72 1.03%
1984 5,053 67.10% 2,417 32.09% 61 0.81%
1980 5,391 66.34% 2,176 26.78% 559 6.88%
1976 4,589 60.79% 2,866 37.97% 94 1.25%
1972 5,234 72.06% 1,923 26.48% 106 1.46%
1968 5,223 67.30% 2,136 27.52% 402 5.18%
1964 4,182 51.01% 4,006 48.87% 10 0.12%
1960 6,290 67.24% 3,059 32.70% 5 0.05%
1956 6,103 68.34% 2,818 31.56% 9 0.10%
1952 7,355 75.61% 2,349 24.15% 23 0.24%
1948 5,106 59.66% 3,372 39.40% 81 0.95%
1944 5,610 65.53% 2,928 34.20% 23 0.27%
1940 6,377 62.69% 3,763 36.99% 32 0.31%
1936 5,622 56.43% 4,284 43.00% 56 0.56%
1932 4,215 48.76% 4,339 50.19% 91 1.05%
1928 6,120 69.43% 2,640 29.95% 55 0.62%
1924 5,721 68.70% 1,099 13.20% 1,508 18.11%
1920 6,558 78.23% 1,668 19.90% 157 1.87%
1916 2,763 59.75% 1,801 38.95% 60 1.30%
1912 1,724 38.35% 1,510 33.59% 1,261 28.05%
1908 2,799 61.19% 1,655 36.18% 120 2.62%
1904 3,050 65.55% 1,394 29.96% 209 4.49%
1900 3,128 60.12% 2,010 38.63% 65 1.25%
1896 2,959 56.11% 2,240 42.47% 75 1.42%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". census.gov. United states Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 71.
  4. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  5. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  9. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  10. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  11. ^ "Population and Housing Occupancy Status: 2010 – State – County". United States Census Bureau American FactFinder. Archived from the original on September 29, 2015. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
  12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  13. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
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